Student violinist takes first place

Punahou School freshman Mary Elizabeth Keller took first place in the Junior String Competition's Southwest Division, in a competition held by the Music Teachers National Association in Salt Lake City. Mary, a 14-year-old violin student of James Stanford, competed earlier this month against state winners from Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. She goes on to the national contest in March. On the college level, Kimberly Harrenstein, a University of Hawaii student, placed second.

Lecture focuses on maritime culture

Bishop Museum archaeologist Tianlong Jiao will speak on Chinese maritime cultures and their links to Pacific voyagers in a lecture, "Origins of Pacific Seafaring," 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the museum's Atherton Halau.

Jiao is project director for the exhibition "Lost Maritime Cultures: China and the Pacific," opening Feb. 24, to include prehistoric items that are 3,000 to 7,000 years old. Many are considered First Rank National Treasures in China on loan to the museum.

Admission is $5, free to museum members. Call 847-3511.

Cades nominations are due by Jan. 31

Nominations are open for the 2006 Cades Awards for Literature, with a deadline of Jan. 31.

Given annually by the Hawaii Literary Arts Council and the Cades Foundation since 1988, the cash awards are Hawaii's highest private honors for literary works.

Entries may be made in two categories:

» An established author with a large body of work relating to Hawaii.

» An up-and-coming local writer with substantial potential for achievement.

Nominees may be poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists or others associated with the local literary arts. Previous winners are not eligible, but writers who have been nominated in the past are encouraged to apply for the award again.

Filmmakers' work wanted for festival

Entry deadline for the Unity Crayons Second Annual Short Film Festival is Jan. 31.

Submissions are sought for the March festival in categories of documentary, drama, comedy, action/adventure, reality, creative, music video and animation.

All entries must be 15 minutes or less to be considered. Films are judged on acting and direction, technical aspects, story and script.

Submissions should be sent to Unity Crayons Short Film Festival 2, 135 S. Kuakini St., 96813, with name, address, phone number and submission category included. E-mail questions to the808scenezine@gmail.com.

COMING UP
Need help understanding opera?

Opera is grand, colorful, majestic and all of that, but you'd certainly appreciate it more if you knew what was going on, wouldn't you? The Hawaii Opera Theatre season begins Feb. 2, so it's a good time to bone up. There are lots of ways: